Practical Practice Management

Becoming A Mentoring Manager

There are many different management styles, some seem to work better in certain situations than others and some just don’t seem to work too well at all.

Take for instance the Autocratic management style, not too many people really like working for a dictator, but in some cases with certain people having someone dictate to them what needs to be done and how each moment of the day needs to go works fine for them. They know what is expected from them and that works for them. Many people are happy working with this management style.

Then there is the Democratic management style where the manager still dictates to their staff what needs to be done, but they then allow their staff to decide how it will get done, as long as it gets done on time. This style also can work well as employees are told what to do, but yet have a say in how they accomplish it. They feel somewhat empowered.

My favorite is the Teamwork style of management where each person has certain tasks to do that they are ultimately accountable for, but they also interact with each other and help one another as the need arises. They work together for common goal of the office each day and the rule is “no man is an island” they are in it together, all for one and one for all.

There is an attribute that really can make the difference in no matter what management style you choose and that is to be a manager that mentors their staff.

When you mentor someone you are taking them under your wing, investing in them in order for them to grow and become more successful in the company and more valuable to the company. There is no holding employees back from learning more, doing more and being able to achieve more.

The better your staff performs and enjoys their job, the better you can perform and grow also. Mentoring takes an investment of your time but the return is 10 fold. Here are just five of the benefits of being a mentoring manager and there are many more, but even if it was just these five it would be well worth the investment.

1. You create a caring and empowering relationship with your staff members.

2. Employee retention, people do not leave jobs that they like and feel valued at.

3. The managers load becomes lighter and more enjoyable.

4. The positive reinforcement creates employees that are willing to go the extra mile.

5. It drives loyalty to you and to the company, which in turn creates loyal customers.

Mentoring managers are always looking out for their employee’s best interests and in turn their employees end up doing the same.